Sandy what a truly heartfelt post. I thank God that you had the courage to say what needed to be said.
I have been thinking about this: "do not resist evil, but repay evil with kindness."
Perhaps it does make sense. Perhaps we should not resist it, but embrace it; instead of ignoring the likes of Nick Berg, we should repay evil with kindness. For one part evil, we gladly give two parts kindness back.
Back to whom? Not Satan, but those whom bare the brunt of the evil. For example, I have heard many say that our military and governments are murders!! Are they Satan? No.....So where then is "repaying evil with kindness"
It's not enough to ignore those that are paying with their lives; just because we are to love our enemies. Sandy, you nailed it. Talk about a two edge sword! We cannot show mercy to those of another nation who are being brutally terrorized, because of love for those who are comitting the crimes.
Are we tolerating evil? Is that what we were commanded?
Not according to Paul, who instructed:
[Let] love be without dissimulation (Let Love not decieve). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [/list:u]Do you get it? When we tolerate evil, our love becomes decietful.
Peter admonishes us on how we must love:
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
[see that ye] love one another
with a pure heart fervently: [/list:u]Their is a massive contradiction of terms here. We must love our brothers and sisters of God with a pure heart; however, we (each and everyone of us) is to abhor (find repugnant) evil.
I think this changes "Loving ones enemies somewhat"
Thoughts, comments welcome.
Sandy, thank you.
May God Bless You All,
YellowStone.